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International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies 2016; 3(4): 68-
ISSN 2347-
IJFBS 2016; 3(4): 68-
Received: 11-05- Accepted: 12-06-
Madhuban Datta Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Nabadwip Vidyasagar College, Nabadwip, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
Correspondence: Madhuban Datta Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Nabadwip Vidyasagar College, Nabadwip, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
Status, guild and diversity of avian fauna from a
wetland site and surroundings, in Krishnagar, a City
beside tropic of cancer, West Bengal, India
Madhuban Datta
Abstract
A total of 98 taxa of avifauna belonging to 46 families has been recorded in a survey carried out from November 2012 to March 2016 at a wetland site (Sadhanpara Beel) and surroundings located in Krishnagar Block II, West Bengal, beside tropic of cancer. This is the first report of the avian diversity from the area. The site provided habitat to 59 species of resident, 16 species of winter migratory, 15 species of local migratory and 8 species of summer migratory bird. Among the feeding guilds, insectivores dominate in species strength (31.63%) closely followed by carnivores (25.51%), omnivores (19.38%), frugivore and grainivore (8.16%), piscivore (5.10%) and nectarivores (2.04%). Survey shows that the landscape is visited by one Near threatened (Black headed Ibis), one Vulnerable (Lesser Adjutant stork) and one Critically endangered (Indian vulture) occasionally. The results of relative diversity (RD) index showed that Accipitridae (RD value = 7.14) was the dominant family in the area. This is the first report of avifaunal diversity from the area. The present check list will provide baseline information for the bird diversity in and around the area.
Keywords: Avifaunal diversity, Status, Guild, Krishnagar Block II, West Bengal, India
1. Introduction
Birds can indicate the overall habitat quality and act as bioindicators of inhabited areas [1]^.
When birds are dependent on the habitat functioning in specific ways, the population trends of
birds can tell us about how well the ecosystem is functioning. Indian subcontinent, a part of
the vast Oriental Bio-geographic regions, is very rich in biodiversity. There are approximately
9,990 bird species recorded in our planet out of which, the Indian subcontinent is home to
1,313 bird species (over 13%) [2]^. Population of bird is a very sensitive indicator of degree of
pollution in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem [3, 4]^. Avifauna are also important for the
ecosystem as they play various roles as scavenger, pollinators, seeds dispersal agent and
predators of insect pest [5, 6]. Unfortunately global diversity of birds is decreasing due to
anthropogenic activities and climate changes [7, 8]^. In the latest assessment in IUCN Red List,
2015, 1,375 species of birds are considered to be threatened with extinction globally out of
which 84 are from India [9]
As compared to importance of other states as a sanctuary towards very few habitats from West
Bengal has been thoroughly and systematically surveyed. Datta [10]^ reported the avifaunal
diversity from two wetlands of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, Mukherjee and Gupta [11]
recorded a total of 20 species of birds belonging to 8 families from Santragachi wetland. Roy
et al. [12]^ studied avifaunal diversity in three different national parks and reserve forest in North
Bengal and founded a total of 117 bird species belonging to 42 families. Dubey et al. [13]
surveyed Jaldapara national park and found 99 taxa of birds in two consecutive years. Ganguly
[14] made a comparative study on status of migratory water birds from different wetlands from
eastern India. Patra and Chakrabarti [15]^ observed 86 bird species belonging 10 orders and 35
families in Digha in West Bengal. Pramanik et al. [16]^ studied biodiversity in Kulik Bird
Santuary in Raigang, West Bengal and observed 29 bird species with 20 families. Some
reports of avifaunal diversity from Murshidabad district are also available [17, 18]^. However,
surprisingly avifaunal diversity reports from district Nadia as a whole are practically
nonexistent except one report from Bhattacharya et al. [19]^. Krishnagar, district headquarters of
Nadia, West Bengal, India, due to its unique geographical location beside the tropic of cancer
and presence of Bahadurpur and Bethuadahari forest stretch is bound to harbour a rich
collection of avian fauna. With this frame of mind the present
study was conducted in different habitats of the study area
viz., wetlands (beel), roadside plantation, forest areas and
orchards, located in Krishnagar Block II, to record avian
diversity from November, 2012 to March 2016. This
communication presents the first detailed account of the
avifaunal assemblages from the reported site.
2. Materials and Method
2.1. Study Area
This wetland site (23.500594 0 N, 88.404089 0 E) is reported
from Krishnagar block II, located 20 km towards North from
district head quarters Krishnagar, Nadia (Figure 1 and 2)
about 125 km from State capital Kolkata. Krishnagar (23.4°N
88.5°E) is famous for its unique geographical location beside
the tropic of cancer (23°26'5"N 88°28'2"E).
Fig 1: Location map of the study area
The wetland site is locally known as a Sadhanpara beel (a
billabong or a lake-like wetland with static water), covering
an area of 1.25sqkm (length 2.5km; breadth: 0.5km). The
average water depth is 1.6m. The beel has recently been
earmarked for intensive aquaculture by Sadhanpara
cooperative society of fishermen. It is a completely rural area
with no urban area under it. The study site also included an
area of about 3 km east of the beel including roadside
plantations, mango and bamboo orchards and a stretch of
forest area with the nearest habitation located about 3 km
away.
Fig 2: Google earth image of the study site
20 Indian vulture Gyps indicus r R CR C BURHINIDAE 21 Indian thick knee Burhinus indicus r LM LC I CAPRIMULGIDAE 22 Large tail nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus uc R LC I CERYLIDAE 23 Pied kingfisher Ceryle rudius uc R LC C CICONIIDAE 24 25
Asian Open billed stork Lesser adjutant stork
Anastomus oscitans Leptoptilos javanicus
uc r
LM
LM
LC
VU
C
C
CISTICOLIDAE
26 Common tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius c R LC I CHARADRIIDAE 27 28
Red wattled lapwing Little ringed plover
Vanellus indicus Charadrius dubius
uc o
R
WM
LC
LC
I
I
CORACIIDAE
29 Indian roller Coracias benghalensis o R LC C CORVIDAE
30 31 32 33 34
House crow Rufous treepie Large billed/jungle crow Black headed cuckoo shrike Common iora
Corvus splendens Dendrocitta vagabunda Corvus macrorhynchos Coracina melanoptera Aegithina tiphia
uc c uc uc uc
R
R
R
SM
R
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
C
F
C
I
I
CUCULIDAE
Asian koel Pied cuckoo GreaterCoucal/crow pheasant
Eudynamys scolopaceus Clamator jacobinus Centropus sinensis
c uc c
R
SM
R
LC
LC
LC
F,I
O
COLUMBIDAE
Ring dove Spotted dove Red collared dove Yellow footed green pigeon
Streptopelia capicola Spilopelia chinensis Streptopelia tranquebarica Treron phoenicoptera
c c uc c
R
R
R
R
LC
LC
LC
LC
G
G
G
G
DICRURIDAE
42 Black drongo Dicrurus macrocercus c R LC C ESTRILDIDAE
43
44
Silver bill munia (Indian silver bill) Spotted/ Scaly Breasted munia
Lonchura malabarica Lonchura punctulata
uc o
R
SM
LC
LC
G
G
HALCYONIDAE
White breasted Kingfisher Stork billed kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis Pelargopsis capensis
c uc
R
R
LC
LC
C
C
HIRUNDINIDAE
47 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica uc SM LC I JACANIDAE
48 49
Bronze winged Jacana Pheasant tailed jacana
Metopidius indicus Hydrophasianus chirurgus
c uc
R
R
LC
LC
C
C
LARIDAE
50 Common tern Sterna hirundo r WM LC P LANIIDAE 51 52 53
Bay backed shrike Southern gray shrike Long tailed shrike
Lanius vittatus Lanius meridionalis Lanius schach
r uc uc
LM
LM
SM
LC
LC
LC
I
I
I
LEIOTHRICHIDAE
54 Jungle babbler Turdoides striata c R LC O MOTACILLIDAE 55 56
Eastern Yellow wagtail Pied/white wagtail
Motacilla tschutschensis Motacilla alba
uc uc
WM
WM
LC
LC
I
I
MEGALAIMIDAE
Lineated barbet Blue throated barbet Coppersmith barbet
Megalaima lineata Megalaima asiatica Megalaima haemacephala
uc c uc
LM
LM
LM
LC
LC
LC
F
F
F
MEROPIDAE
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Green bee eater
Merops philippinus Merops orientalis
uc c
SM
R
LC
LC
I
I
MUSCICAPIDAE
Oriental magpie robin Pied bushchat Humes leaf warbler
Copsychus sauleris Saxicola caprata Phylloscopus humei
c uc r
R
R
WM
LC
LC
LC
I
I
I
NECTARINIIDAE
Purple sunbird Purple rumped sunbird
Cinnyris asiaticus Leptocoma zeylonica
c uc
WM
WM
LC
LC
N
N
ORIOLIDAE
67 Eurasian Golden oriole Oriolus oriolus c R LC I PARIDAE 68 Great tit Parus major o SM LC I PASSERIDAE 69 House sparrow Passer domesticus c R LC G PICIDAE
Yellow crowned woodpecker Black rumped flameback Fulvous breasted woodpecker Streak throated woodpecker
Dendrocopos mahrattensis Dinopium benghalense Dendrocopos macei Picus xanthopygaeus
r c c r
R
R
R
R
LC
LC
LC
LC
I
I
I
I
PHALOCROCRACID
AE
Little cormorant Indian Cormorant Great cormorant
Phalacrocorax niger Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Phalacrocorax carbo
c c uc
R
R
LM
LC
LC
LC
P
P
P
PHASIANIDAE
77 Grey francolin Francolinus pondicerianus uc R LC O
PLOCEIDAE 78 Baya weaver Ploceus phillipinus uc R LC O PODICIPEDIDAE 79 Little Grebe (Dabchick) Tachybaptus ruficollis c R LC P PSITTACIDAE 80 Rose ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri c R LC G PYCNONOTIDAE 81 82
Red vented Bulbul Red Whiskered Bulbul
Pycnotus cafer Pycnotus jocosus
c o
R
R
LC
LC
F
F
RALLIDAE
White breasted Water hen Common coot Common Moor hen Purple swamp hen
Amaurornis phoenicurus Fulica atra Gallinula chloropus Porphyrio porphyrio
c o c uc
R
LM
LM
LM
LC
LC
LC
LC
O
O
O
O
RHIPIDURIDAE
White throated fantail flycatcher
Rhipidura albicollis r SM LC I
SCOLOPACIDAE 88 89 90
Pin tailed Snipe Marsh sandpiper Common sandpiper
Gallinago stenura Tringa stagnatilis Actitis hypoleucos
uc uc c
WM
WM
WM
LC
LC
LC
O
I
I
STRIGIDAE
91 Indian eagle-owl Bubo bengalensis o R LC C STURNIDAE
92 93 94 95
Common/INDIAN myna Brahminy myna/starling Rosy starling Pied Myna
Acridotheres tristis Sturnus pagodarum Pastor roseus Sturnus contra
c o o c
R
R
WM
R
LC
LC
LC
LC
O
O
F
O
THRESKIORNITHID
AE
96 Black headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus r LM
NT
BRS
C
UPUPIDAE
97 Hoopoe Upupa epops uc R LC I
The winter migratory birds like Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon,
Common teal, Grey Heron, Wagtails (Eastern yellow and
pied), Pin tailed Snipe, Sandpiper (Marsh and Common)
displayed a definite pattern specific to species for arrival at
and departure from various wetland. They appeared at the
area from November and stayed up to March. The peak of
winter population of migratory birds was observed during the
months of December to February. The basic requirements of
migratory birds at their wintering ground are adequate food
supply and safe [28]^ , which are fulfilled by Sadhanpur beel,
nearby agricultural fields and orchards and the nearby forest
area of Bahadurpur.
Out of the 98 species recorded Lesser Adjutant Stork
( Leptoptilos javanicus ) is currently enlisted as Vulnerable (V)
in IUCN category, Black headed Ibis ( Threskiornis
melanocephalus ) belongs to Near threatened (NT) category,
moreover it is also categorized as Biome Restricted Species
(BRS) by Bird life International and Indian vulture ( Gyps
indicus ) is categorized as Critically endangered (CR). Though
these three species were sighted only twice or thrice during
the study period but it proves they probably use the site as a
stop over site or a potential resting place during their journey.
All the other listed species belonged to Least concerned
category of IUCN.
The bird composition of a site depends on the vegetation
structure. Existences of trees, bushes, creepers are very
important to them [29, 30]^. More complex vegetation structure is
associated with greater diversity. The agricultural fields
surrounding the study site, and plantations surrounding the
beel probably provided shelter and suitable foraging grounds
for the wetland birds. Sadhanpur beel and surrounding muddy
area provided different food sources like fish, crustaceans,
invertebrates, water plants and plankton which further added
to the diversity of birds. The diversity of the land birds could
be associated due to the presence of varied types of habitat
and microhabitats available in the roadside plantations,
bamboo and mango orchards and the narrow forest patch.
Among the winter migratory birds Gadwall, Cotton pygmy
goose and Pin tailed snipe were the most abundant. Lesser
whisteling duck ( Dendrocygna javanica ) were encountered
throughout the year though there abundance was much higher
in winter. Besides the other common water birds were Indian
cormorant ( Phalacrocorax fuscicollis ), Cattle egret ( Bubulcus
ibis ), Common Moor hen ( Gallinula chloropus ) and Bronze
winged Jacana ( Metopidius indicus ). White-Breasted
Kingfisher ( Halcyon smyrnensis ), the State Birds in West
Bengal in family Halcyonidae was found in the beel and
surrounding agricultural field. The most common land birds
found in the study site were Red vented Bulbul ( Pycnotus
cafer ), Black Drongo ( Dicrurus macrocercus ), Indian Myna
( Acridotheres tristis ), Rosy starling ( Pastor roseus ), Ring
Dove ( Streptopelia capicola ), Spotted Dove ( Spilopelia
chinensis ), Jungle Babbler ( Turdoides striata ) and Rufous
Treepie ( Dendrocitta vagabunda ).
Based on the abundance (frequency of sightings), 15 species
were identified as rare, 32 uncommon, 35 common and 16
occasional. The residential status of the birds were identified
as Residential (60.20%), winter migratory (16.32%), summer
migratory (8.16%) and local migratory (15.30%) (Figure 4).
The composition of birds in major feeding guilds in the study
area showed that the insectivore guild was the most common
with 31.63% species followed by carnivore (25.51%),
omnivore (19.38%), frugivore and grainivore (8.16%),
piscivore (5.10%) and nectarivore (2.04%) (Figure 5).
Fig 4: Residential status of the avian fauna at the study site
Fig 5: Guild wise percentage of the bird species found at the study site
4. Conclusion
The place is situated 8-9 km North-west from Purbasthali
oxbow lake (Chupi char), Burdwan which is known to be a
rich abode for avian fauna [31]^. The famous Bethuadahari
wildlife sanctuary is located about 15 km north and
Bahadurpur forest range and Hansadanga beel is located 15
km towards South. Above all the site is located very near the
tropic of cancer. Thus the place is expected to show a rich
avian diversity as is evident from the present study. The
present check list will provide baseline information for the
bird diversity in and around the area. However, due to
increasing anthropogenic activities all wetlands are under
threat [10, 32]^ and it is therefore important to earmark this area
as a rich abode of avian fauna and necessary action to
preserve the biodiversity should be adopted by the state
government immediately. The site also holds an immense
potential to be developed as a tourist spot with few
improvisations as it is located within 30km from Mayapur, the
head quarter of International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKCON) and world famous Vaishnav
pilgrim place. This report provides the first extensive study of
the bird fauna of this region and its potential to be developed
as a haven for bird watchers and a tourist spot.
5. Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge the Principal
Nabadwip Vidyasagar College to kindly permit the time and
necessary help to carry out the work. She would also like to
acknowledge the help of Mr. Koustav Biswas, an ex-student
of the department of Zoology for helping in the survey and
documentations during the study.
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